Captive Reptiles May Have Nutritional Deficiency

Common Nutritional Disease Can Be Recognized Early in Pet Reptiles

Your pet reptile may have a nutritional disease that is commonly referred to as metabolic bone disease. Reptile pets in captivity typically show signs and symptoms of the nutritional deficiency early in the disease. Owners can look for:

Pet owners keeping reptiles in captivity as household pets may sometimes find that their pets have a nutritional deficiency. Metabolic bone disease is "the most common nutritional deficiency affecting captive reptiles," advises veterinarian Fredrick L. Frye in Reptile Care: An Atlas of Diseases and Treatments. Dr. Frye suggests that the disease is a result of dietary intake creating an excessive amount of phosphorus in the animal's body.

Metabolic bone disease (MBD) in reptiles can often be overlooked until the pet seems to have broken toes or a leg that presents as impaired. Bone produced by the animal's body is brittle, fragile and can be spongy in texture. When your pet lizard or iguana jumps from one hard surface to another the bone can easily fracture. Normal movements your pet makes can be painful with the disease. Your pet reptile may experience discomfort when walking or moving around a cage, terrarium or your home.

Young lizards with metabolic bone disease may have skulls that fail to grow larger and become longer. They can retain the rounder shape seen at birth.

Early signs of metabolic bone disease in reptiles can be recognized when watching your pet closely. If you see that your iguana or lizard is using its front legs to move and the back legs are dragging you'll want to contact your veterinarian for an immediate appointment.

Lizards and iguanas, for example, use all four legs to move around. Their tails do not remain limp behind them with normal movement. There is a natural lift to many reptile tails that supports their forward motion. An iguana may be able to lift the front of its body, yet the torso and tail will be dragged due to the disease.

Watching your pet you'll be able to see if it looks jerky while it walks. Its limbs or muscles may show twitches and tremors. You may experience your pet's shakiness when holding it.

When handling your pet, you may also find that it has knobs or bumpy places along the bone ends and between the bones of its back or tail. Your vet will always check for knobs and bumps during an office exam. Eating may become decreased and weight loss may occur if your pet's jaw is affected by the disease.

Advanced cases of metabolic bone disease may also include anorexia and fractured bones. Dr. Frye advises that "severely deficient reptiles tend to be lethargic and may only be able to drag themselves along the ground. A reptile lacking the ability to lift it's body from the ground when sitting or walking often suffers from a moderate to severe case of MBD."

When a diagnosis is made for metabolic bone disease, your veterinarian will guide you with treatment recommendations and nutritional guidelines for your pet.

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Two years ago, our household grew to include an adorable, good-natured puppy. With the personality and coloring of the gentle-giant Bernese Mountain dog, the swooping, curved tail of a Husky, and the short glossy fur of a Labrador, this little guy grew to be a huge (literally) part of our family.

We relocated to Council Bluffs in the spring of 2013, our young children and their only pet in tow. Knowing no one, having no connections, we asked our realtor for a veterinary recommendation. She raved about the folks at the Council Bluffs Veterinary Clinic. This knowledge we tucked away, assuming we'd only need a new vet for required annual vaccinations. How thankful we are now, after the month we've just experienced that it was this particular clinic our realtor recommended to us!

In early October, our young, healthy dog tore into a stuffed squeaky toy. We quickly gathered the fluff and disposed of it. However, the squeaky part didn't even cross our minds. When our dog stopped eating, started vomiting, and lost his gusto, we knew something was wrong. The tiny squeaker lodged in his digestive system and he quickly became seriously ill.

Three surgeries later, more than a week of IV fluids and medications, constant care, enthusiastically cheering him on - a dog they'd never treated before - the staff at the Council Bluffs Veterinary Clinic saved our dog's life. Without a doubt, they saved his life.

When I think of this welcome we received into our new community, I am blown away by the devotion of Dr. Hobbs and Dr. Michael. The vet techs, the reception staff, the ladies who watched over our dog as he slept on the floor (because he was too big for the recovery kennel) on a pile of blankets while medicine dripped into his recovering body - they showed such incredible kindness, that it's effects are impossible to express adequately. Yet, they deserve to be acknowledged. In their quiet way, they gave us part of our family back, and we will be forever thankful.

Please, if you have a pet, heed the warnings to watch them tirelessly when they have a toy that can be torn to bits. Or better yet, skip the stuffed squeakers and keep your furry friend safe and healthy. The fact our dog survived this ordeal is nothing short of a miracle - the veterinarians say so themselves. Thank you Council Bluffs for supporting the work of these remarkable people who poured their all into bringing our family together again.

The Newton Family -
Council Bluffs, IA

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